Take-up device for knitting machines



F. LAMBACH 2,429,230

TAKE -UP DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Oct. 21,1947.

Filed Feb. 24, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l #4 1 :3 INVENTOR 7 Z filrzlA/waAclx I BY W5 .A M/fl m9 W22 ATTORNEY Oct. 21, 1947. F.- LAMBA-CH 2,429,230

TAKE-UP DEVICE FORKNITTING MACHINES 'Filed Feb. 24, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR fk/TZ L A MBA CH ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 21, 1947 tJNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TAKE-UP DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Fritz Lambach, Tenafly, N. .1.

Application February 24, 1944, Serial No. 523,638

My invention relates to knittin machines, and more particularly to a take-up device for taking up the fabric knitted by the knitting implements of a knitting machine.

An object of my invention is to provide a takeup device of such a construction, that, during the operation of the knitting machine, the tension roller forming a part of the take-up device exerts a uniform force on the fabric over the entire width thereof,

Another object of my invention is to provide a take-up device of above described type, which may be readily adjusted with great accuracy for a fabric of predetermined quality.

A further object of my invention is to improve upon the construction of take-up devices for knitting machines as now ordinarily made.

With the above and other objects of the invention in mind, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of various devices, elements and parts, as set forth in the claims hereof, an embodiment of the same being described in the specification and being illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a take-up device according to the invention arranged in a warp knitting machine, some parts being broken away or being omitted for a better illustration of the elements forming a part of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of a detail of the take-up device shown in Fig. 1, and

16 Claims. (01. 66-149) an adjusting screw or the like.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View of the take-up device 7 taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, It generally indicates the frame of a warp knittin machine. As best shown in Fig. 3, the fabric l2 knitted by the knitting implements i l of the warp knitting machine is taken up by a take-up roller l6 journalled in suitable bearings of the frame it) and intermittently driven by a suitable drive to be described hereinafter. The fabric l2 passing over a guiding rod l8 arranged in the frame w of the warp knitting machine is subject to a certain tension caused by a movable tension roller 29.

The arrangement of the tension roller 29 is as follows: The tension roller 23 is rotatably mounted in a pair of spaced supporting members or arms 22, 24. Each of said supporting members 22, 24 is swingably mounted on the frame Ill of the warp knitting machine. The supporting member 22 is swingable about the shaft 26 carrying some elements of the drive for'the take-up roller It as will be described hereinafter, and the supporting member 24 i swingable about a shaft 28 coaxially arranged in the frame of the warp knitting machine with said first mentioned shaft 26. One end of a connecting link 3!] is pivoted to an extension 32 of the supporting arm 22 at 34 and likewise one end of a connecting link 36 is pivoted to an extension 38 of the supporting arm 24. The other lower end of the connecting link 33 is pivoted at All to one arm d2 of a bellcrank lever 44 keyed to a shaft 45 journalled in the frame it) of the warp knitting machine. Likewise, the lower end of the connecting link 36 is pivoted to an arm 48 of a bell-crank lever 59 keyed to the same transverse shaft dfi. Apparently the pivotally connected connecting link 30 and arm 42 and the pivotally connected connecting link 36 and arm t8 form spaced parallel linkmechanisms coupled with each other through the shaft 46, one end of each link-mechanism bein pivoted to one of the supporting members 22, 2a, the other end of each link-mechanism being swingably mounted on the knitting machine at 46. Each arm 42, 48 of the pair of bell-crank levers i i, 5!! carries a weight 52, 54 slidably and adjustably arranged on said arm. The weight may be held in its adjusted position by means of The weights 52 and 54 tend to urge the tension roller 20 against the fabric [2. Obviously, the larger the distance between the weight and the axis of the shaft 46, the larger the tension in the fabric caused by the tension roller 28. Each of the weights may be readily adjusted in a predetermined position for a predetermined degree of the tension in the fabric by means of a scale 56 arranged on the arm of the bell-crank lever carrying the weight. Thus, the weights 52 and 54 may be used for a rough adjustment of the tension in the fabric.

The following additional adjusting means are arranged for a fine adjustment of the tension in the fabric. A tension spring 58 is stretched between the arm 60 and one end of an adjusting rod 62. The other end of said adjusting rod 62 is flattened and passes freely through a hole 65 in a bracket 68 secured to the frame it! of the warp knitting machine. Furthermore, said flattened end 64 is provided with threads for engagement with the threaded bore of a crank iii abutting against the surface of the bracket 68. As will be readily understood, a rotation of the crank ill causes a displacement of the adjusting rod 62 in the direction of its longitudinal axis and, consequently, a change in the force of the tension spring 58 acting on the arm Bil of the bell-crank lever 44. The tension spring 58 counteracts to a certain degree the load on the tension roller 26 caused by the action of the weight 52. A scale I2 arranged on the flattened end 64 of the adjusting rod 62 may be used for an adjustment of a predetermined degree of the force exerted by the tension spring 58 on the tension roller 26. In a similar manner a tension spring (not shown in Fig. 1) is arranged between the arm I2 of the bell-crank lever 56 and an adjusting rod I6, the threaded end 18 of which is engaged with the threaded bore of a crank 86.

Each connecting link 36, 36 carries an adjustable stop 82, 84. Said stops S2 and 64 cooperate with a member 86 of the frame of the warp knitting machine for limiting the lowermost position of the tension roller 26.

As will be apparent from above, the mechanism 36, 36, i2, 48 and 46 serves as a coupling between the spaced supporting members 22 and 24 of th tension roller 26, so, that said two supporting members 22 and 24 are moved at the same time and displaced to the same degree. Consequently, the movements of the tension roller 26 during the operation of the warp knitting machine are positively controlled by the mechanism 22, 24, 36, 36, 42, 43, 46 including a parallel guide engaged with spaced points of the tension roller, so that said tension roller is held in positions substantially parallel to each other during its displacements and a uniform displacement of the tension roller 26 over the entire Width of the fabric I2 is obtained.

The drive of the take-up roller I6 is as follows: A sprocket gear 88 keyed to a shaft 96 journalled in the frame I6 of the warp knitting machine may be rotated by the main shaft (not shown) of the warp knitting machine through the medium of a chain 92. One arm 94 of a U-shaped crank 96 is keyed to the shaft 96, the other arm 68 of said crank 96 has a slot I66 for engagement with the flattened portion I62 of a bolt I64 inserted into a bore of a feed rod I66. A shoulder I68 of the bolt I64 carrying a pointing mark H6 abuts against the arm 98 carrying a scale H2. The bolt I64 is held in engagement with the feed rod I66 by means of a split-pin H4 or the like. The flat portion I62 of the bolt I64 may be displaced in the slot I66 of the arm 96 for an adjustment of the eccentricity caused by the distance between the axis of the shaft 96 and the axis of the bolt I64. The flattened portion I62, and consequently the bolt I64, may be held in its adjusted position relative to the slot I66 by means of a nut I I6 screwed on th threaded end H8 of the bolt I64. The eccentricity of the axis of the bolt I64 relative to the axis of the shaft 96 determines the feed of the take-up roller I6 in a manner to be described hereinafter. Therefore, a predetermined degree of the feed of the take-up roller I6 may be readily adjusted by means of the pointing mark II 6 cooperating with the scale H2.

As pointed out above, one end of the feed rod I66 carries the bolt I64. The other end of the feed rod I66 has a slot I26 for engagement with a pin I22 carried by an arm I24 of a member generally indicated by I26. Said member I26 is swingably mounted on the shaft 26 carrying the supporting member 22 of the tension roller 26. The member I26 has a second arm I26 and a third arm or feeler arm I36 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. A tension spring I32 stretched between a pin I34 secured to the feed 4 rod I66 and a hook I36 secured to the arm I24 of the member I26 tends to urge the pin I22 carried by the arm I24 towards the lower end of the slot I26. The lower-most position of the pin I22 in the slot I26, however, is determined by the feeler arm I36 of the member I26. Said feeler arm I36 may come to rest on an extension I38 of the tension roller. If the tension roller 26 and fceler arm I36 are in the position shown in Fig. 3, there is a slight distance between the lower end of the slot I26 and the pin I22. During the operation of the warp knitting machine, the feed rod I66 is moved back and forth in the direction of the arrows A and B owing to the eccentricity adjusted by the setting means I66, I62, I64, II8 described above. As soon as, during the movement of the feed rod I66 in the direction of the arrow A, the lower end of the slot I26 abuts against the pin I22 carried by the arm I24, the arm I24 is swung in clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, whereby a spring loaded pawl I 46 carried by the arm I28 of the member I26 causes a slight rotation of a ratchet wheel I42 engaged with the pawl I26 and rotatably moimted on the shaft 26 carrying the supporting member 22 of the tension roller 26. The slight rotation of the ratchet wheel I42 is transmitted to the take-up roller I6 for the taking up of th fabric through the medium of a gear I44 connected with said ratchet wheel I42 and engaged with a gear I46, which in turn is in mesh with a gear I46 meshing with a gear I66 connected with the take-up roller I6. A spring loaded arresting pawl I52 mounted on a pin I54 secured to a member I56 carried by the guiding rod I8 serves to hold the ratchet wheel I62 and, consequently, the take-up roller I6 in its advanced position after the performance of a feeding stroke of the feed rod I66. During the return of the feed rod I66 in the direction of the arrow B, the spring I32 draws the arm I24 of the member I26 in counterclockwise direction, until the feeder arm I36 of said member I26 abuts against the extension I38 of the tension roller 26.

As will be readily understood from above, if, during the operation of the Warp knitting machine, a change in the tension of the fabric I2 occurs with the result of a change in the position of the tension roller 26, a change in the distance between the pin I22 and the lower end of the slot I26 occurs at the same time, so that the take-up roller I6 is automatically fed to a greater or smaller extent, until the normal tension in the fabric I2 is readjusted and the tension roller 26 returns into its original position.

It may be mentioned that the sprocket gear 86 is rigidly connected with a gear I58 mounted on the shaft 96 described above. Said gear I56 is in mesh with a pinion I66 on the stationary coupling member I62 of a friction clutch I64. The slidable coupling member I66 of said clutch is engaged with the hand wheel shaft I63 carrying a number of hand Wheels I16. The shifting member for the slidable coupling I 66 is omitted in Fig. l, and the coupling members I62 and I66 are shown as being disengaged from each other. If the coupling members I62 and I66 are engaged with each other,.the rotatable elements of the warp knitting machine may be rotated by hand by means of a hand wheel I16.

The operation of the take-up device is as follows: Preferably, a table is given to the operator of the machine indicating certain values on the scales 56, '12, [I2 to be adjusted for a fabric of a certain quality; for example, the weights 52 and 5.4 .are adjusted to the value 3 on the scal fili and the tension spring :58 is adjusted to the value 5.2 on the scale l2, so that a predetermined load acts on the tension roller 20 for subjecting the fabric 1.2 to a certain tension. Furthermore, for example, the setting means Hill, H12, H14, llzfi .are set for the value 2 on the scale H2 for a certain degree of the feeding of the take-up roller 1 6. As will be readily understood, the provision of the scales permits a ready adjustment of the warp knitting machine to any fabric to be knitted.

If, during the knitting operation, a, change in the tension in the fabric 12 occurs, which might result in a lifting or lowering of the tension roller 20, such a, lifting or lowering of the tension roller takes place at a uniform degree over the entire length of the tension roller owing to the positive control of the movements of the latter by the mechanism 22, 24, 30, 36, 42, d8, @6, so that a uniform tension over the entire width of the fabric I2 is maintained. I

I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A take-up device for taking up the fabric knitted by the knitting implements of a knitting machine, comprising: a take-up roller rotatably mounted in the knitting machine, a drive associated with said take-up roller, said drive being capable of rotating said take-up roller for taking up the fabric, a tension roller for engagement with the fabric extending between the knitting implements and the take-up roller so as to tension said fabric, a pair of spaced supporting members swingably mounted on said knitting machine, a shaft journalled in said knitting machine, a pair of spaced levers keyed to said shaft, and a pair of connecting links, each connecting link connecting a supporting member with a lever, and said pair of spaced supporting members carrying said tension roller for controlling the movements thereof.

2. A take-up device for taking up the fabric knitted by the knitting implements of a knitting machine, comprising: a, take-up roller rotatably mounted in the knitting machine, a drive associated with said take-up roller, said drive being capable of rotating said take-up roller for taking up the fabric,v a tension roller for engagement with the fabric extending between the knitting implements and the take-up roller so as to tension said fabric, a pair of spaced supporting members swingably mounted on said knitting machine, a shaft journalled in said knitting machine, a pair of spaced levers keyed to said shaft, a pair of connecting links, each connecting link connecting a supporting member with a lever, said pair of spaced supporting members carrying said tension roller for controlling the movements thereof, and an adjustable load acting on said supporting members for an adjustment of the tension in the fabric by means of the tension roller carried by said supporting members.

3. A take-up device for taking up the fabric knitted by the knitting implements of a knitting machine, comprising: a take-up roller rotatably mounted in the knitting machine, a drive associated with said take-up roller, said drive being capable of rotating said take-up roller for taking up the fabric, a. tension roller for engagement with the fabric extending between the knitting implements andthe take-up roller so as to tension;

machine, a shaft journalled in said knitting masaidifabric, a pair of spaced supporting members,

swingably mounted on said knitting machine, a shaft journalled in said knitting machine, a pair of spaced levers keyed to said shaft, a pair of connecting links, each connecting link connecting a supporting member with a lever, said pair of spaced supporting members carrying said tension roller for controlling the movements thereof, a first adjustable load acting on said supporting members for a rough adjustment of the tension in the fabric by means of the tension roller carried .by said supporting members, and a second adjustable load acting on said supporting mem-.

bers and counteracting said first adjustable load for a fine adjustment of the tension in the fabric.

4. A take-up device for taking up the fabric knitted by the knitting implements of a knitting machine, comprising: a take-up roller rotatably mounted in the knitting machine, a drive associated with said take-up roller, said drive being capable of rotating said take-up roller for taking up the fabric, a tension roller for engagement with the fabric extending between the knitting implements and the take-up roller so as to tension said fabric, a pair of spaced supporting members swingably mounted on said knitting machine, a shaft journalled in said knitting machine, a pair of spaced levers keyed to said shaft, a pair of connecting links, each connecting link connecting a supporting member with a lever,

said pair of spaced supporting members carrying said tension roller for controlling the movements thereof, and a Weight adjustably mounted on at least one of said levers for an adjustment of the tension in the fabric by means of the tension roller carried by said sup-porting members.

5. In a take-up device as claimed in claim 4:, said lever being equipped with a scale for adjusting the weight in a predetermined position.

6. A take-up device for taking up the fabric knitted by the knitting implements of a knitting machine, comprising: a take-up roller rotatably mounted in the knitting machine, a drive associated with said take-up roller, said drive being capable of rotating said take-up roller for taking up the fabric, a tension roller for engagement with the fabric extending between the knitting implements and the take-up roller so as to tension said fabric, a pair of spaced supporting members swingably mounted on said knitting chine, a pair of spaced levers keyed to said shaft, a pair of connecting links, each connecting link connecting a supporting member with a lever, said pair of spaced supporting members carrying said tension roller for controlling the movements thereof, a weight adjustably mounted on at least one of said levers for a rough adjustment of the tension in the fabric by means of the tension roller carried by said supporting members, at least one arm secured to said shaft, and an adjustable load acting on said arm and counteracting said weight for a fine adjustment of the tension in the fabric.

7. A take-up device for taking up the fabric knitted by the knitting implements of a knitting machine, comprising: a take-up roller rotatably mounted in the knitting machine, a drive associated with said take-up roller, said drive being capable of rotating said take-up roller for taking up the fabric, a tension roller for engagement with the fabric extending between the knitting. implements and the take-up roller so as to tension said fabric, a pair of spaced supporting;

members swingably mounted on said knitting 7 machine, a shaft journalled in said knitting machine, a pair of spaced levers keyed to said shaft, a pair of connecting links, each connecting link connecting a supporting member with a lever, said pair of spaced supporting members carrying said tension roller for controlling the movements thereof, a weight adjustably mounted on at least one of said levers for a rough adjustment of the tension in the fabric by means of the tension roller carried by said supporting members, at least one arm secured to said shaft, a spring connected with said arm and arranged for counteracting said weight, and adjusting means associated with said spring for adjusting the force thereof for a fine adjustment of the tension in the fabric.

7 8. In a take-up device as claimed in claim 7, said adjusting means including a scale for adjusting a predetermined force of the spring.

9. In a take-up device as claimed in claim '7, said lever being equipped with a scale for adjusting the weight in a predetermined position, and said adjusting means including a scale for adjusting a predetermined force of the spring.

10. A take-up device for taking up the fabric knitted by the knitting implements of a knitting machine, comprising: a take-up roller rotatably mounted in the knitting machine, an adjustable eccentric feed motion associated with said take-up roller for feeding same for the taking up of the fabric, a tension roller for engagement with the fabric extending between the knitting implements and the take-up roller so as to tension said fabric, a mechanism movably arranged in said knitting machine, said mechanism being engaged with said tension roller for controlling the movements thereof, an adjustable load acting on said tension roller for an adjustment of the tension in the fabric, setting means including a scale associated with said adjustable eccentric feed motion for adjusting a predetermined degree of eccentricity, and adjusting means including a scale associated with said adjustable load for adjusting a predetermined action of the load.

11. A take-up device for taking up the fabric knitted by the knitting implements of a knitting machine, comprising:' a take-up roller rotatably mounted in the knitting machine, an adjustable eccentric feed motion associated with said takeup roller for feeding same for the taking up of the fabric, a tension roller for engagement with the fabric extending between the knitting implements and the take-up roller so as to tension said fabric, a mechanism movably arranged in said knitting machine, said mechanism being engaged with said tension roller for controlling the movements thereof, a first adjustable load acting on said tension roller for a rough adjustment of the tension in the fabric, a second adjustable load acting on said tension roller and counteracting said first adjustable load for a, line adjustment of the tension in the fabric, setting means including a scale associated with said adjustable eccentric feed motion for adjusting a predetermined degree of eccentricity, first adjusting means including a scale associated with said first adjustable load for adjusting a predetermined ction of the latter, and second adjusting means including a scale associated with said second adjustable load for adjusting a predetermined action of the latter.

12. A take-up device for taking up the fabric knitted by the knitting implements of a knitting machine, comprising: a take-up roller rotatably mounted in the knitting machine, a drive associated with said take-up roller, said drive being capable of rotating said take-up roller for taking up the fabric, a tension roller for engagement with the fabric extending between the knitting implements and the take-up roller so as to tension said fabric, a pair of spaced supporting members swingably mounted on said knitting machine, a pair of spaced link-mechanisms, each link-mechanism including a plurality of links pivotally connected with each other, one end of each link-mechanism being pivotally connected with one of said supporting members, the other end of each link-mechanism being swingably mounted on the machine, said spaced link-mechanisms being coupled with each other for a simultaneous movement thereof and of said spaced supporting members, and said pair of spaced supporting members carrying said tension roller for controlling the movements of the latter.

13. A take-up device for taking up the fabric knitted by the knitting implements of a knittin machine, comprising: a take-up roller rotatably mounted in the knitting machine, a drive associated with said take-up roller, said drive being capable of rotating said take-up roller for taking up the fabric, a tension roller for engagement with the fabric extending between the knitting implements and the take-up roller so as to tension said fabric, a pair of spaced supporting members swingably mounted on said knitting machine, a pair of spaced link-mechanisms, each link-mechanism including a plurality of links pivotally connected with each other, one end of each link-mechanism being pivotally connected with one of said supporting members, the other end of each link-mechanism being swingably mounted on the machine, said spaced link-mechanisms being coupled with each other for a simultaneous movement thereof and of said spaced supporting members, said pair of spaced supporting members carrying said tension roller for controlling the movements of the latter, and an adjustable load acting on said supporting members for an adjustment of the tension in the fabric by means of the tension roller carried by said supporting members.

14. A take-up device for taking up the fabric knitted by the knitting implements of a knitting machine, comprising: a take-up roller rotatably mounted in the knitting machine, a drive associated with said take-up roller, said drive being capable of rotating said take-up roller for taking up the fabric, a tension roller for engagement with the fabric extending between the knitting implements and the take-up roller so as to tension said fabric, a pair of spaced supporting members swingably mounted on said knitting machine, a pair of spaced link-mechanisms, each link-mechanism including a plurality of links pivotally connected with each other, one end of each linkmechanism being pivotally connected with one of said supporting members, the other end of each link-mechanism being swingably mounted on the machine, said spaced link-mechanisms being coupled with each other for a simultaneous movement thereof and of said spaced supporting members', said pair of spaced supporting members carrying said tension roller for controlling the movements of the latter, a first adjustable load acting on said supporting members for a rough adjustment of the tension in the fabric by means of the tension roller carried by said supporting members, and a second adjustable load acting on said supporting members and counteracting said first 9 adjustable load for a fine adjustment of the tension in the fabric.

15. A take-up device for taking up the fabric knitted by the knitting implements of a knitting machine, comprising: a take-up roller rotatably mounted in the knitting machine, a drive associated with said take-up roller, said drive being capable of rotating said take-up roller for taking up the fabric, a tension roller for engagement with the fabric extending between the knitting implements and the take-up roller so as to tension said fabric, a pair of spaced supporting members swingably mounted on said knitting machine, a pair of spaced link-mechanisms, each link-mechanism including a plurality of links pivotally connected with each other, one end of each linkmechanism being pivotally connected with one of said supporting members, the other end of each link-mechanism being swingably mounted on the machine, said spaced link-mechanisms being coupled with each other for a simultaneous movement thereof and of said spaced supporting mem bers, said pair of spaced supporting members carrying said tension roller for controlling the movements of the latter, and a stop arranged on the knitting machine for limiting the lowermost position of the tension roller.

16. A take-up device for taking up the fabric knitted by the knitting implements of a knitting machine, comprising: a take-up roller rotatably 5 Number 10 mounted in the knitting machine, a drive associated with said take-up roller, said drive including a ratchet gearing comprising a ratchet wheel for an intermittent feed of the take-up roller for taking up the fabric, a shaft carrying said ratchet Wheel, a tension roller for engagement with the REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Wirth Dec. 15, 1936 Kellogg et a]. June 17, 1941 Boyer Oct. 3, 1893 Lambach Nov. 28, 1944 Howie Dec. 2, 1924 

